Violet Durbin lives a quiet life on the fringes of society until she crosses paths with the Duke of Hawkinson, when the duke tries to prevent his nephew from seeing her and in the process falls in love with her.
Phillip Harding Durbin, Viscount Kelly, did what was very rarely done in society: he married his mistress and publicly acknowledged and adopted his illegitimate daughter, Violet Welsh.
But society in Regency England is unforgiving to members of the aristocracy who marry their mistresses, and Lord Kelly, as well as Lady Kelly and their daughter, Violet, are shunned by most of society except for a few close friends.
Living quietly as an outcast, Violet leads a happy life and tries to forget the past in which she was, for a few horrible weeks, forced to become the mistress of her mother's lover, when he discarded her mother.
Violet constantly fends off illicit propositions from society men, but Lord Jared Falweir, nephew of the Duke of Hawkinston, has fallen in love with Violet and intends to marry her.
In the process of attempting to keep his nephew from becoming involved with Violet, the haughty Duke of Hawkinston falls in love with her himself and begins a relentless pursuit, certain he can convince her into becomming his mistress. But Violet holds firm, for she has sworn she will not stain her father's name by becomming a kept woman.
Violet finds herself drawn toward the duke, who showers her with flattering single-minded attention and is an expert at placing her in situations where she is increasingly in danger of losing her heart.
But Violet's beauty also attracts dangerous men and the stepson of the duke's sister, Lord Cade Souten, has developed a dangerous obsession over Violet and will not rest until she is his, by whatever method...
Phillip Harding Durbin, Viscount Kelly, did what was very rarely done in society: he married his mistress and publicly acknowledged and adopted his illegitimate daughter, Violet Welsh.
But society in Regency England is unforgiving to members of the aristocracy who marry their mistresses, and Lord Kelly, as well as Lady Kelly and their daughter, Violet, are shunned by most of society except for a few close friends.
Living quietly as an outcast, Violet leads a happy life and tries to forget the past in which she was, for a few horrible weeks, forced to become the mistress of her mother's lover, when he discarded her mother.
Violet constantly fends off illicit propositions from society men, but Lord Jared Falweir, nephew of the Duke of Hawkinston, has fallen in love with Violet and intends to marry her.
In the process of attempting to keep his nephew from becoming involved with Violet, the haughty Duke of Hawkinston falls in love with her himself and begins a relentless pursuit, certain he can convince her into becomming his mistress. But Violet holds firm, for she has sworn she will not stain her father's name by becomming a kept woman.
Violet finds herself drawn toward the duke, who showers her with flattering single-minded attention and is an expert at placing her in situations where she is increasingly in danger of losing her heart.
But Violet's beauty also attracts dangerous men and the stepson of the duke's sister, Lord Cade Souten, has developed a dangerous obsession over Violet and will not rest until she is his, by whatever method...
